Essential oils are volatile oils that come from herbs, flowers, or trees. Extraction of these aromatic oils can be done by various means, but distilling is by far the most common. They are used in a variety of settings and purposes. For instance, they are usually added to perfumes, cosmetics, soaps, and household deodorizing and cleaning products. There are also food-grade essential oils that impart flavor and scent to food items and beverages.
The therapeutic use of these oils is called aromatherapy, which is widely considered as a form of alternative medicine. The curative effects of essential oils are theorized to result from the effect of odorant molecules on the brain’s emotional center, the limbic system. Some of these aromatic oils, like those of frankincense and lavender, are known to exert antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. Additionally, frankincense essential oils are believed to treat disorders like ulcerative colitis.
There are also researches done in the past which report that the smoke from incense sticks infused with Frankincense essential oils are effective at calming the mind, and may be used to bring those who are depressed to a better mood. Lavender essential oil is known to aid in relaxation as well, and is in fact, a component of some anxiolytic drugs. When taken in vapor form, lavender essential oils are known to relieve tension headaches and treat cough.
Topical essential oils are usually diluted since their concentrated versions have been reported to bring about varying degrees of dermal irritation, and at times, even set off a hypersensitivity reaction. Use of lavender essential oil has also been pointed out as a possible contributory factor to gynecomastia, which is the enlargement of breasts among males. Though non-life threatening, it can still cause problems in terms of the person’s self confidence. There have been reports as well of consumers suffering from mild to moderate bouts of GI upset after taking or using products which contain frankincense essential oil. Remember to talk with your healthcare provider about your aromatherapy practices to ensure safe and coordinated health management.
Essential oils for therapeutic use can be bought from online and offline health stores. Food and industry-grade ones can be bought from manufacturers and affiliated distributors. Various agencies regulate essential oils according to their intended use. In the United States, essential oils are regulated by the FDA in terms of their intended use. Although a few companies have obtained FDA approval to carry out research on essential oils used therapeutically, the majority of these aromatic oils are not considered drugs by official agencies. Thus, they can be bought by anyone even without a prescription.
Instead, buyers check if the product passed ISO or AFNOR manufacturing standards to evaluate its
quality. Regulation of the sale and marketing of industrial-grade products containing these aromatic oils is typically governed by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
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